Protection by schisanhenol against adriamycin toxicity in rat heart mitochondria

The effects of schisanhenol (Sal) on Adriamycin (ADM)-induced rat heart mitochondrial toxicity in vitro were investigated. Malondialdehyde formation, lysis, disintegration and membrane rigidification in mitochondria treated with ADM were reduced significantly by Sal. In the electron spin resonance studies, Sal did not affect significantly the formation of ADM semiquinone radicals (AQ.), whereas hydroxyl radicals generated by electron transfer from AQ.to H2O2 were scavenged by Sal dose dependently. These results indicate that Sal could protect against ADM-induced rat heart mitochondrial toxicity.